Chemical container



June 13, 1944. G. c. IRWIN 2,351,267

CHEMICAL CONTAINER Filed Jan. 25, 1943 VENTOR GE 6: C. IRWIN BYWXW ATTOHNE Y Patented June 13, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHEMICAL CONTAINER George C. Irwin, Stq Louis, Mo. Application January 25, 1943, Serial No. 473,577

3 Claims.

This invention relates to containers for chemical compounds of a volatile nature, and has reference more particularly to an improved container for enclosing and supporting therein, chemical compounds in mass or cake form.

A principal object of the invention is to provide an improved casing structure for volatile chemical compounds in mass or cake form, wherein the casing is adapted for the support of the chemical cake in substantial suspension therein such that the entire cake surface is appreciably clear of contact with the interior wall surfaces of the casing, whereby to afford air circulation about and in contact with all surfaces of the cake compound for facilitating volatilization thereof uniformly over the cake surface, the casing for this purpose being suitably apertured for the admission of air and the discharge of the resultant chemical vapors.

Another object resides in the provision of a container of the character indicated, comprising a unitary or one-piece case and a removable cover therefor, wherein the case structure is formed of a readily formable plastic material. Among the disadvantages attending the heretofore prevalent use of paperboard and metal containers for volatile chemica1 compounds, is one which concerns the effect which the chemical vapors of sezne compounds have upon suchcontair'iera Thes'e vapors frequently attack the coloring agents,

printing and adhesives used in containers of paperboard, and tend to soften lithographing and coatings on metal containers. This result is definitely avoided by the present invention, since the improved plastic casing which may bear any desired legend embossed on or molded therein, and such coloring agents as may be utilized to give color to the plastic material, are not affected by the vapors of the usual compounds employed for moth-proofing, insect repelling, deodorizing and the like, to which the present invention is directed.

Other objects and advantages will appear readily from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated by the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates in rear elevation, a unitary casing of a preferred construction according to the present invention, the view thereof showing the casing with the rear cover removed. to show the interior arrangement;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the casing, as viewed from the'line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an assembly view in oblique elevation from the casing-rear, portion of the cover 55 broken away to illustrate the chemical body within the casing;

Fig. 4 is a view in front elevation of a chemical compound in cake form, as adapted for insertion in the casing;

Fig. 5 is a section through the cake, as taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation in one plane through the assembled cake and casing, and

Fig. '7 is a similar sectional View, as taken in a plane transverse to the plane of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawing by appropriate characters of reference, the improved container shown comprises a unitary casing l0 formed of a suitable plastic material and providing a front wall l l and a continuous side wall I2 which may have the contour illustrated, or any other desired shape. Integral with the casing therein, are a plurality of flange-like projections l4 each of which extends inwardly from the side wall 12 and along the front wall I l, toward the central zone of the casing, and terminates in a relatively abrupt edge 15. Each of the elements or projections I4 is of wedge-shape, being tapered divergently from the base portion l6 thereof preferably throughout its longitudinal extent, as shown by Figs. 1 and 2. Also integral with the casing is a stud or upstanding pin I! located centrally in the casing as shown, the stud ll preferably projecting to the same extent as provided for the flanges l4, and being tapered convergently from the pin base on the casing wall H. p

The projections I4 and pin ll provide a support within the casing, for the desired chemical material such as the volatile compound l8 here shown in mass or cake form, the cake for the purpose of the-present invention, being of a volume less than that of the casing interior. The cake or body I8 is formed preferably with planar face surfaces [9 and 20, and a side surface 22 contoured substantially in conformance with the inner surface contour of the casing side wall l2. In one face 20 of the cake are formed inwardly tapered grooves or recesses 23 equal in number to the number of casing flanges I4, each groove as shown being open on the cake side face 22 and extending inwardly toward the central face zone of the cake, to terminate in an end shoulder 24. Further, an inwardly tapered aperture or recess 25 is formed centrally in the cake face 20, to accommodate the pin IT. The cake as thus formed, is adapted for insertion in the casing in a centered position therein, with the casing flanges seating in the cake recesses 23, and. the casing pin ll in the central cake recess 25. The centered position of the cake in the casing as effected principally by the pin I1 in the cake recess 25, is additionally assured by determining the longitudinal inward extent of the cake grooves 23 with regard to the inward extent of the flanges l4, such that the flange terminal edges IE will abut the cake recess shoulders 24, upon mounting the cake in the casing. Moreover, it is to be noted that firm retention of the cake body on the casing flanges l4 and centered pin I1, is afforded in a frictional manner, by the tapered form of the coalcting flanges H, pin l1, and cake recesses 23 and 25. The result is essentially a wedge-like seating of the cake on the casing supports I4 and I1.

The free margin 26 at the open end of casing 'I ll is interiorly reduced as shown, to provide a shouldered seat 21 for the margin 28 of a removable casing closure member 30. The closure member 30- preferably'of' planar form, may be formed like the case ill, of plastic material, or Many other suitable material such as-fibreboard, and in assembly to the casing is retained in -place preferably through a press-fit of its margin 28 in the shouldered seat 21. A projection or handle 3| may be formed on the closure to facilitate its removal when desired. 7

As clearly illustrated, the closure member 30 is provided with a multiplicity of relativelysmall openings or vent ports 32 preferably arranged in the closure marginal area 34, while the .forward casing wall II is provided with similar perforations or vent ports 35 marginally located substantially as shown. These openings or perforations thus afford adequate ventilation of the chemical body therein and discharge of the resultant chemical vapors.

The longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the cake, its thickness and the depth of the recesses 23 and 25 therein, are predetermined with regard to the corresponding dimensions of the case interior and the upstanding extent of the casing flanges l4 and pin I1, so that in the assembly positionment of the cake in the casing wherein the cake is firmly wedge-seated on the casing flanges l4 and pin H, the cake face 20 will be appreciably spaced from the casing wall ll, while the cake side surface 22 will be considerably spaced. from the casing side wall l2, and the cake face [9 similarly spaced from the interior surface 36 of closure member 30. The spacing of the cake or chemical body centrally within the casing is illustrated clearly by Figs. 6

and 7. As a result, air entering the assembled casing through the casing vent ports hereindescribed, will have relatively free and complete access to substantially the entire cake surface, thereby facilitating a uniform and more effective evaporation of the compound and discharge of the resultant vapors through the vent openings into the atmosphere about the casing. It now will be observed that in the course of uniform evaporation of the chemical body, a condition willbe reached wherein the central casing pin l7 provides the sole support for the remaining core of the substantially exhausted cake. The pin IT by reason of its wedge-seating in the central opening 25 in the cake, issufiicierit to maintain the cake core in place until the core is ultimately completely exhausted, whereupon a new cake may be placed in the casing. Thus it will be ap preciated that the presently'improved casing device affords not only a uniform and more effective volatilization of the compound therein, but volatilization thereof to the point of complete evaporation while retained in a fully exposed central position in the casing.

Prior to its use, the chemical compound body l8 normally will be wrapped or enclosed in a sealing tissue or cover to prevent its evaporation. Such wrapping however, is completely removed before the body is inserted in the casing, so as completely to expose the compound for volatilization when mounted in the casing. Moreover, and as will be readily understood, the function of the present device may be continued indefinitely or as long as needed, by inserting a re-fill cake following exhaustion of the cake in the casing. Additionally, if a greater or more rapid rate of evaporation is desired, the chemical body employed in the casing may be of a character providing a degree of body porosity suflicient for the passage of air through the body spaces, this being readily attainabl by reason of the virtual suspension of the body in the casing, which afiords air contact over substantially the entire surface of the compound.

Formation of the presently improved casing assembly of a plasticmaterial colored as desired by a coloring agent fixed in the material; readily permits the production of a pleasing or ornamental casing in any desired shape, wherein any one or more of'the casing walls may be figured or otherwise ornamented by embossing or recessing, effected in the molding process. Furthermore, lettering providing directions for use of the device, and other desired legends may be similarly produced on the'surfaces of the container. Since the plastic material ordinarily is'unafi'ected by the chemical vapors emanating from the chemical body within the casing, the ornamentation and legends on the casingfiexterior, .Wlll. remain as originally formed.

The casing containing the chemical body in substantial suspensiontherein, may be readily located in any area to be treated, as in clothes closets and the like, and to facilitate its mounting as from a clothes pole, hook, etc., a hanger element 38 of hook form may be suitably attached to the casing. As here shown, an opening 39 is formed in the upper central zone of the casing sidewall I2, toreceive therethrough th shank end 40 of hanger element 38. The free end 42 of the hanger shank is deformed or peened-over as illustrated, for retention of the hanger in assembly with the casing. I i

While only a preferred embodiment of the invention is herein described and illustrated, it is to be understood that alterations or modifications in the structure thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and full intended scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim: 1

1. In a container of the character described, a perforated casing including a removable closure therefor, provided for receiving a volatile chemical compound in mass form, characterized by a volume less than that of the casing interior, and by spaced, relatively convergent channels of wedge-shape in section, arranged in one face thereof and extending inwardly from the periphery toward the central zone of the compound,

relative convergence to the'channels in the compound, and being adapted for wedging reception in the channels of the compound, the compound channels and casing flange elements cooperating in assembly to frictionally support and substantially center the compound Within the casin such that the surfaces of the latter are free of contact with the interior wall surfaces of the casing and closure.

2. In a container of the character described, a unitary, perforated casing open at one end for receiving a volatile chemical compound in mass form and of a volume less than that of the casing interior, the compound further being characterized by inwardly tapered channels and a central tapered recess in one face thereof, a removable closure for the open end of the casing, tapered flange elements within and extending toward the central zone of the casing interior, and an upstanding tapered pin located centrally in the casing, said flanges and tapered pin being arranged and adapted for wedge-seating respectively, in the channels and central recess of the compound, thereby to frictionally support and substantially center the compound within the casing such that the surfaces of the compound are free of contact with the interior surfaces of the casing and closure.

3. In a container of the character described, a unitary perforated casing of molded plastic, open at one end for receiving a volatile chemical body of a volume less than that of the casing interior,

the chemical body being characterized by a plurality of angularly related, inwardly tapered channels in one face thereof, each channel ex tending inwardly from the periphery of the body and terminating near the central zone of the body, in a channel end wall, and by a tapered circular recess in said central body zone, a perforated closure for the open end of said casin and said casing being formed to provide a plurality of tapered flanges therein corresponding in number and relative angular position, to the channels in said chemical body, each flange terminating near the central Zone of the casing to provide a shoulder, the casing further being formed to provide a tapered, circular pin centrally in the casing, said flanges and pin being adapted for Wedge-reception respectively, in the channels and central circular recess of the chemical body upon insertion of the body in the casing, with the shoulder of each casing flange in abutment with the end wall of the associated body channel, the casing flanges and central pin thus coacting with the channels and central recess of the chemical body, to mount and frictionally retain the body in a centered position within the casing, such that the body surfaces are spaced from the interior surfaces of the easing and end closure.

GEORGE C. IRWIN. 

